Aeroplane construction



Oct; 25,1938. A.1.. H. NICKERSON 2,134,260

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept; 7, 1935 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1938 ENToFFiCE AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION j James H. Nickerson, Kansas City, Kans. Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,564Y

1 claim. (o1. 244-119) This invention relates to aircraft construction and particularly the body thereof and the primary object is the provision of. unique and novel means for producing a strong and desirable body wherein the covering thereof is tensioned in such fashion as to establish a self-supporting, selftrussed body with longitudinally extending members which further contribute to the rigidity and strength of the unitary body of the aircraft.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide an aeroplane body'wherein is included a plurality of longitudinally extending sheets that form a cover for the frame of the body and which are joined along their proximal longitudinal edges in such fashion as to produce a tension within the sheets so joined and whereby a longitudinal structural member is created along the length of the body for the purpose of further strengthening, bracing and rendering unitary, the body.

Other objects of the invention include specific means whereby the aforementioned broad general objects are incorporated in an aircraft body structure and such minor objects will appear during the course of the following specification referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane body made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, l'cross sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, sectional view through one of the joints of the body.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, view through a portion of line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional view through the body wall and illustrating the manner in which the covering may be .attached to one of the bulkheads.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the manner in which the flanges of the sheets forming the covering for the body frame may be turned inwardly.

Fig. '7 is a similar view to that illustrated in Fig. 6 with the flanges of the covering sheets projecting outwardly, and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view through an aeroplane body embodying a modified type of bulkhead and which is made to impart pressure between bulkhead and covering and tension to the said covering.

It is well known in this art that aeroplane body construction must be such that the racking and twisting imparted thereto when in use, is overdetailed, cross-sectional the body wall taken on come and weaknesses which have been generally encounteredare to alarge extent due to the weakness of the frame per se and since it is common practice to hang the covering of .an aeroplane' body directly upon the frame, this covering does not contribute to ystrengthening the frame nor to lending rigidity or strength to the entire unitary body itself. Ordinarily, tensioning tie members are stretched between the various structural units of the frame of an aeroplane body andthese tie members customarily have means for drawing the units of the frame together or establishing a relation there-between which contributes to a desired end. v

lTensioning of the covering has heretofore not entered into the solution ofy the structural problem and it is the purpose of this invention to provide such a covering for an aeroplane body and to gain a complete understanding of ,the principles involved reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein are illustrated several embodiments of the invention. In creating the aeroplane body, a frame is always provided and in this instance, the same comprises a plurality of bulkheads I0 each of which is in the form of a ring or annulus that is circumscribed by the covering I2 ofthe body. This covering comprises a number of longitudinally extending sheets I4 formed intermediate their ends to permit obtaining the desired contour and each having laterally extending ange I6 which terminates in .a rebent margin I8 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7.

The longitudinal edges of each sheet I4 therefore, present a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional outline and a longitudinally extending strip 20 is positioned at the base of this attenuated U-shaped marginal portion along each longitudinal edge of each sheet respectively. The edges of the several sheets forming the complete covering for the body are spaced apart as illustrated and means is provided for securing together these proximal edges. This means may be in the form of a conventional type bolt and nut 22 and 24 respectively and the bolt passes thro-ugh apertures formed through flanges I6 and longitudinal strips 20. In the event some resiliency is desired between the securing means and Y the joint structure just described, a specially formed washer 26 such as illustrated in Fig. 7 maybe interposed between one of strips 20 and the nut 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, the proximal edges of sheets I4 are a distance apart which positively insures that no abutment takes place and the combined peripheral dimension of the bulkhead I along the line of contact with covering I2 is greater than the combined widths of all of sheets I4 at that line. Therefore, upon tightening the securing members in the form of bolts 22, a tension is established within each and every one of the sheets I4 and a pressure is exerted against the outer periphery of the adjacent bulkhead I0. In most instances it is desired to cover the longitudinally extending joint structure which has been described and as illustrated in Figs. l and 3, a transversely arched Spanner 28 isprovided and secured to adjacent sheets I4 in the manner shown. This Spanner is resilient enough to be `moved to position so that screws or analogous means 30 may secure it tothe underlying sheets I4. In the form of the jointstructure shown in Fig. 6 the flanges I6 are turned inwardly and a notch 32 provided in the underlying bulkhead ID allows free passage of this longitudinally extending joint. The space between proximal sheets I4 in this particular type of construction is bridged by a Spanner 34 which lies in a plane parallel to the normal plane of sheets I4. While it is n ot contemplated that the covering be attached to the several bulkheads, reference to Fig. will readily illustrate that such can be done and in such event, rivets 36 will extend from bulkhead III through a slot 38 so that While rivet 33 holds the covering to the bulkhead relative movement between the said elements may take place when the aeroplane body is subject to racking,

In Fig, the invention is embodied in the form o an expandable bulkhead 50 about which is wrapped a covering 52. The tensioning of covering 52 and the setting up of a pressure between bulkhead and covering 5U and 52 respectively, is accomplished by the expander member 54 which is in screw-threaded engagement with the ends of the split bulkhead 50. Right and left hand screw-threads on member 54 and in the openings which receive the ends of member 54, insure that the turning of said member will increase and decrease the peripheral dimension of bulkhead 50. Obviously tensioning of covering 52 will take place when the bulkhead is expanded.

While several forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is understood that a large number of structural modications and changes might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

An aeroplane body comprising a frame; a covering of longitudinally extendingrigid sheets of metal having their proximal edges spaced apart; laterally extending, radially disposed flanges formed along the said edges of the sheets and having rebent margins extending throughout their lengths; means for joining the flanged edges of said sheets to produce a tension within the sheets of the covering and a pressure against the said frame; and spanners bridging the joint formed by the adjacent edges of adjoining sheets, said flanges of the sheets extending outwardly from the body and said Spanner bridging the joint being arcuate in cross section and contacting said rebent margins whereby to house the said flangesand joining means therebeneath.

JAMES H. NICKERSON. 

